ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 21, 2023 I love it when the Judge next door at the Courthouse calls us to do a wedding (Paula, Mariah, and I have all done weddings). Sometimes we get the call because he is stuck in court and has a couple waiting to be married. Though we interact with the couples for less than 20 minutes, and usually just 15, I still really enjoy the people I meet. I respect the setting I’m in and thus do not impose a religious service on them. With that said, most of the time, the couple is really quite excited to learn a minister will be doing their service. I even had a mother say, "It’s an answer to my prayers." The other part I enjoy is inviting the couple (and family) over to our chapel for pictures. About half of them accept my invitation. In fact, the Judge often tells couples about the chapel, and the wedding parties—small and large—cross the street to have some nice pictures on their wedding day. This exudes the values and convictions of Cypress Creek Christian Church and Cypress Creek Christian Community Center. I remind people all the time of the Community Center mindset that very few churches have but is baked into the DNA of CCCC. These buildings were brought into existence with the larger community in mind, and it is the community that uses the buildings more than the church. I celebrate that! As we learn in Acts 7, the Most High God does not dwell in buildings made with human hands (vs.48), though I do believe God is still encountered in the buildings we build. The point of this line in Stephen’s sermon prior to his stoning, at least as I read it, was to make sure people of faith maintained a healthy relationship with religious buildings, not allowing them to become idols. This is causing great tension in a lot of churches today. They talk a good game about the church being the people, not the building. And then turn around and treat people poorly who track dirt on their carpets and leave scuff marks on their floors. People are the priority in the Kin(g)dom of God. Sacred Spirit, as you move among us—whether it be in a defined worship space or the sacred space that is this world—we pray that our worship of you continues to find ways of joyfully blessing every member of the human family, even if they are just popping for a few photos in our chapel. Amen.
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ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 20, 2023 Last Sunday, after worship, I grabbed a bite of lunch before coming back to the church for the big send-off—the youth mission trip. It was about 1:15pm, so only a little over an hour had passed since folks had left the Forum after worship. As I walked up the steps on the Library side, I walked through one of the thickest spiderwebs I had walked through in quite some time. All I could think about was how fast that spider had worked, doing so in 100+ degree weather and in about an hour's time. Of course, I was doing that funny "get the spiderweb off my face" dance that I’m sure many of you have done. As I got to my office, still picking some of the web from my hair, I got to thinking about how hard that little spider must have worked, only to have someone completely unaware of the work come along and destroy it. It was sort of a metaphor for me of the impact "unawareness" has on our lives. How often have we stepped on someone’s toes (literally or, more often, figuratively) because we were completely unaware of the work someone else had done? Where have we caused damage simply because we did not perceive what had occurred prior to our arrival? Sadly, I have probably done that way too many times. Asking for forgiveness is probably an excellent starting point, but I am also praying for greater awareness when noticing is a possibility. I keep telling myself that my perception of any person’s life is always incomplete. What others value or what they believe has brought meaning to their lives may not be the same as mine. Or maybe there is a part of their personal story that has required a great deal of emotional energy, yet it’s something that has never even crossed my mind. Because we are humans, even the best intentions and greatest awareness will still leave some damage in our wake. Again, asking for forgiveness is so important, but so is trying to understand someone else’s story and life experiences so as to do better next time. I am also trying to be gracious when I know others who caused me hurt did not know or understand my history or life experience. The Apostle Paul was always writing to communities of people who were bumping into each other simply because of unawareness, and generally these were folks who were really trying hard to follow Jesus. It takes a lot of work, but in the end, I still believe it is worth it. I’m sure I have hurt others simply because I was not aware. Gracious God, if I can offer an apology and learn, please help me. And where I am still unaware of my unawareness, gently encourage my growth in understanding what I previously did not understand. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 19, 2023 A few weeks ago, I preached a sermon that caused some folks to squirm, others to ask challenging questions, and still others to disagree. And to be clear, within our tradition, disagreeing is something you are more than welcome to do. I just encourage people to do more than disagree simply because something makes them feel uncomfortable. Within the large spectrum that is Christianity (both historical and current), it is good to know why one disagrees. Take the journey of understanding, and in the end, it's ok to continue to disagree, but now one’s faith has found greater strength because of the journey of discovery. Within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), there has always been a real emphasis on individual responsibility for one’s own faith, not to be confused with individualism. We believe our faith journey should always be done in relationship and conversation with others, both inside and outside the church. In the sermon in which I talked about transgender individuals, people who self-identify as gender nonconforming, and drag performers (these are not the same thing), I spoke about stepping outside of the binary, the either/or. I used Genesis 1, the Hebrew Creation poem, where there are many binaries: night and day, sea and land, etc. Now, I do not believe the author of the poem believed those binaries were all there was. There is dusk, there are marshes, and there are many things found between the two that are mentioned. And then I took the next step, and talked about how God created them, male and female, and how God created them in God’s own image. Does God hold both genders within the divine nature? Interesting side note, a number of Indigenous Tribes here in the Americas believed that a person who carried both male and female characteristics were to be revered as they were a closer reflection of the Creator. Some people might have thought that I preached the sermon as a way of defending my family, but it’s important for folks to know that I wrote a paper in graduate school (1991) in which I argued almost the same idea. It stirred up a few folks at that time, but if I remember correctly, I got an A. In that paper, I drew upon Matthew 19, where Jesus talked about eunuchs, specifically three different kinds of eunuchs: eunuchs from birth, eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and those who have made themselves eunuchs. To be clear, eunuchs and transgender people are not the same thing at all, but scholars are not necessarily sure exactly why Jesus even used the example of the eunuch in a teaching on marriage and divorce. Yet he seemed to speak very openly and graciously about eunuchs, no matter how they came to that reality. It's important to know that eunuchs fell outside of the traditional binary gender, and the initial response of ancient Israel was to simply say they were not allowed to participate in the temple rituals and experiences. By excluding them, it was just easier than trying to figure out where they fit. Of course, the Prophet Isaiah begins to change things as he speaks of the eunuch finding a place in the worshiping community that God has made uniquely for the eunuch (Isaiah 58). And then in the Book of Acts, we hear about the Ethiopian eunuch who was baptized by Peter, with baptism being understood as the entry point into community of those seeking to follow Jesus. The strange outsider is suddenly a prominent insider. Alongside all this, and I mentioned it in the sermon, the Jewish Talmud (a sort of running commentary in the Rabbinical tradition, birthed from the theological and Biblical debates shortly after the time of Jesus) provides some challenging thoughts on the subject. According to the Talmud, there are eight genders. I didn’t know that until a local Rabbi pointed me to an article that described this (see link below). I mention that, not to blow your mind as it did mine, but to remind folks, as the article does right from the beginning, that such questions are not new. I raise it, not necessarily to change anyone’s mind, but to point out how faith communities, including Christianity, have been having these conversations for generations. And to recognize how some circles of Christianity are currently using transgender, gender nonconforming, and drag performers as the new boogieman that we are all to fear. I call this the enemization of Christianity. I didn’t use that word in the sermon because it was too hard a word to easily enunciate and would have required a lot of explaining in the context of the sermon. So instead, I talked about how unhealthy (anti-Jesus) it is to build an understanding of Christianity on the necessity of having an enemy. When people do that, Christianity becomes less about what you believe and more about who you oppose. In fact, I believe it has become the predominant way of understanding Christianity in our current culture. This is a very lengthy Etching, but I wanted to revisit the conversation as a way of reminding folks of the more significant and main point of the sermon—how do we understand Christianity if we do not have an enemy? Remember, Jesus said, "Love your enemy," and if you love your enemy, I’m pretty sure that person is no longer an enemy. For all the challenging parts of scripture, alongside the many ways scripture has been understood in every generation, we seek to find peace in you, Gracious and Loving God. Continue to challenge us on what it means to love as Jesus loved, stepping outside of a binary where our side is right and their side is wrong. This is our prayerful request in the name of Christ. Amen. LINK: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-eight-genders-in-the-talmud/ ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 18, 2023 Last night, I had the joy of participating in a Zoom Call to honor Paul Few, who has served our denomination in the area of Men’s Ministry, on the Local, Regional, and General levels. I know Paul, not only through his work with the church, but also because he is my stepfather. There were so many people on the call who I knew when I was a youth at First Christian Church in Lincoln, NE, or when I was serving on staff at the Regional Camp Ground in Nebraska. There was also a face familiar to Cypress Creek folks on the call. Nathan Higginbotham has known Paul for many years, mostly in the area of Men’s Ministry, but the two of them have a wonderfully supportive friendship as well. The SW Region modeled its Men’s Ministry staff position off of what Paul did in the Nebraska Region, which was a sort of full-time job but with a volunteer’s salary. Today, I give thanks for all those who serve the church sacrificially because of their passion for what the church is and what the church does. Paul Few is one amazing example of this selfless leadership that has blessed countless lives and will continue to have an impact well beyond the Region of Nebraska. Some people will say it is the minister who makes a church, but I would entirely disagree. In my opinion, it is the faithful laity who believe in the vision and mission of the church and give so much of who they are to the work. For all the saints whose leadership has encouraged and inspired the church, we give you thanks, O God. Continue to call forth individuals who will find creative and impactful ways to bring the Gospel to those who yearn to know of your love. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 17, 2023 A Prayer for the Week A prayer for everyone who is tired today—tired from the heat, from the stresses of daily life, from the constant barrage of hostility in politics, and from the stress of caring for someone who requires more and more help. Lord God, we name the weariness of body and soul, and though we take any opportunity for a quick nap, we also seek your renewing Spirit. Feed us with a good word of hope and encouragement, and then bring alongside us a few good people who can help us bear the weight that should never have been carried alone. We request these things in the belief that you hear us and are always responding to us with immeasurable grace. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 16, 2023 Yesterday, I started my Etching with a question: Does worship have a purpose? I did not necessarily answer the question directly, though I hope the Etching echoed some of the concerns the Prophet Isaiah had with the way certain worship practices were used to conceal unethical behavior. Let me suggest that I not only believe worship has a purpose, but I also believe it will be part of God’s transformation of the world. Why do I believe that? Simply put, worship shapes people’s lives. Sadly, I think some worship shapes people in the likeness of something other than Jesus. Worship with the underlying theme of guilt or fear shapes highly anxious and non-peaceful people who are in search of someone to blame for all their problems. But a worship experience where the far-reaching love of God is taught and people are challenged in their own understanding of love will shape the participants in such a way that they will better reflect the Jesus who we meet each Sunday at the table of welcome. Is Cypress Creek Christian Church perfect in its work of shaping people in the Love First Life? No! Far from it! I’m sure if I reflected on sermons I preached ten years ago, I would find illustrations and language that did not reflect a more glorious and abundant understanding of love. With all certainty, there have been moments when worship has fallen short of the high ideal to which we have been called. At the same time, I do believe there has been a holy evolution happening, not only in worship, yet the act of prayer and praise, sermon and song, has been the central place of transformation. This did not begin when I arrived, for in fact, in its 50+ years, CCCC has been on a trajectory of growing in faithful proclamation and sacred welcome. Today, I give thanks for the way God continues to act and work in worship. Let us gather to celebrate a God who continues to find a way of bringing us into a more genuine expression of the Jesus-life. Today, as you always have, meet us in worship. Holy and Grace-filled God, whether we gather in person or online, allow words, melodies, and beautiful rituals to be just some of the tools you use to bring us closer to mercy and love made real in the life of Jesus. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 15, 2023 Does worship have a purpose? Tomorrow morning, I will look at a portion of Isaiah 58 in which there is a glimmer of hope after some very challenging words. The discomforting thoughts are found in the first four verses of this chapter, where we read: Shout loudly; don’t hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their crime, to the house of Jacob their sins. They seek me day after day, desiring knowledge of my ways like a nation that acted righteously, that didn’t abandon their God. They ask me for righteous judgments, wanting to be close to God. “Why do we fast and you don’t see; why afflict ourselves and you don’t notice?” Yet on your fast day you do whatever you want, and oppress all your workers. You quarrel and brawl, and then you fast; you hit each other violently with your fists. You shouldn’t fast as you are doing today if you want to make your voice heard on high. Is fasting a bad thing? Absolutely not! What is troubling to the Prophet are those who use fasting, or any other religious practice or confession, as a means of feeling good when, in fact, they are not doing any good. The Prophets have an incredible ability to offer harsh criticism, call out hypocrisy, and make everyone feel as if they are beyond hope. It was sort of in the job description. Sometimes our systems are in need of a shock to awaken us to who we are and what we have been called to do. We tend to focus on the love and mercy of Jesus, and I think we should. But on occasion, Jesus cut loose on some of those who were doing the very things the Prophet Isaiah raised as concerns. I’ve always thought of judgment in a positive way, which I know is a stretch for some people. But I believe divine judgment is only the light by which we are able to see where our lives are in fact undermining the Gospel. It can feel uncomfortable for a moment, but the light is also grace, through which we see a path forward that was never outside of God’s love and mercy. Amazing God! I don’t always like it when the light of judgment shines upon me, yet I know there is plenty within me that might be a bit hypocritical and, in fact, hinder the proclamation of your unconditional and limitless love. In your mercy, help me to change… even when my initial reaction is discomfort or even pushing back. Be my teacher and guide. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 14, 2023 God is often referred to as the Alpha and the Omega (the A and Z in the Greek alphabet), the beginning and the end. In the opening words of scripture, God clearly precedes creation and is understood as something other than creation. Yet this God, who existed prior to the first spark of life, is One who intimately involves the divine self in every aspect of the created order. Though God is not defined by time and history, God still chooses to be completely engaged in that which is defined by time and history. As one who is defined by those parameters, I’m glad God has made that choice. Though I do not comprehend how what is eternal could interact with the finite, I am thankful that you, O Lord, have made it happen. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 13, 2023 An author by the name of Solomon Bellow once wrote: "Everyone needs memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door." When the Israelites found themselves exiled and far from their beloved Jerusalem, they drew from their memories like a person draws nourishing water from a well. Some say that in times of crisis, people cling to their memories, but our memories are so woven into our being that there is no clinging to them. We simply travel down the pathway of our past, where we find those life-giving memories that sustain us in the present. Though I do not desire to live in the past, O Lord, may I venture there when necessary to find nourishment at the well of recollection. Amen. ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 12, 2023 How do you deal with hurtful words? How do you, in the words of my wife, let them roll off you like water off a duck? The staff and I talked about this yesterday during staff meeting, and I had before us the words from 1st Peter 5:7, "Throw all your anxiety onto God, for God cares about you." How do you throw your anxiety (frustration, anger, or hurt) onto God? It’s a beautiful image, but what if you're recovering from rotator cuff surgery or your back ain’t able to lift what it used to lift? Does throwing your anxiety onto God really require any lifting? I don’t believe so, but the poetry is beautiful. In fact, I think we can simply walk away from the things that have caused us anxiety and frustration. Sometimes I use imagery within my prayer, where whatever it is that has caused this emotional irritation, I see myself holding it and then setting it down. I feel separation from it, and then I walk away. The final thing I imagine is God with a big broom and dustpan sweeping up what I left behind and disposing of it where I won’t ever stumble across it again. I can’t say it works perfectly, but it does help. Allow the gift of imagination that you provided me, O Source of Life, to be one of the tools I use as I seek the best version of myself possible. Amen. |
AuthorRev. Bruce Frogge Archives
May 2024
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